Geneva man accused of using guitar as weapon

GENEVA – A Geneva man who has other charges pending was charged with misdemeanor aggravated assault on public property. Police said he used his guitar to take a swing at a woman.

Mark R. Chroust, 28, whose last known address was in the 1100 block of Sunset Road, is being held on $15,000 bond in the Kane County Jail. A plea setting is scheduled for Monday at Kane County Branch Court.

According to police reports, Chroust approached a group sitting in an outside patio at Cotto A. Legna, 500 S. Third St., about 12:10 a.m. Tuesday and began cursing at people.

An employee told him to leave and escorted him to the public sidewalk. Once there, according to police reports, Chroust used his acoustic guitar to swing at her, but she was able to get out of the way and was not struck by the guitar.

According to court records, Chroust has been charged with various misdemeanors in Geneva and St. Charles.

On June 16, he was charged with criminal trespass to property and, in a separate charge, with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in St. Charles.

Chroust was charged July 9 with resisting and obstructing police and having open alcohol in a public place after a disturbance outside of the St. Charles Public Library.

A plea setting for those three cases is scheduled for Aug. 21 in branch court, records show.

Chroust was charged with resisting a police officer July 10, 2013, in St. Charles, pleaded guilty and served 18 days in jail, court records show.

He was charged with criminal trespass June 24, 2013, in St. Charles. According to court records, the charge was stricken with leave to reinstate.

On Feb. 6, 2012, Chroust was charged with public intoxication in Geneva. He pleaded guilty, paid a $200 fine and received supervision, court records show.

Chroust was charged with battery Jan. 22, 2012, in St. Charles. He did not enter a plea, but was fined $350.

On June 30, 2007, Chroust was charged with battery in Geneva. He did not enter a plea, paid a $550 fine and received 12 months of supervision.